I have. People are stepping up and building their own businesses by partnering with companies like Warm Spirit http://www.warmspirit.com/. For most people, this empowers them to supplement their corporate income or replace it. A direct marketing organization offers freedom, flexibility and friendship to its members. Many people love it!

Recently, I had the pleasure of keynoting at the Warm Spirit Conference in Orlando, FL (see picture of me with two of their leaders). I was pleasantly surprised to find that their Consultants are committed to excellence, continuous customer care and business development.

I must admit, I had quietly doubted many direct-marketing organizations because of my perceptions about multi-level marketing businesses. But, direct marketing organizations like Warm Spirit are the real deal and so are their results.

Don’t sleep. It’s time to wake up. Building your own direct marketing business is the wave of the future!

One of the premises for an effective negotiation is to focus on common ground. That is, the mutually agreed upon areas where you and the other party agree. Why? Well, it’s because focusing on common ground creates momentum and trust. You need both of these factors to “get to yes!”

Apparently, the United Auto Workers and GM could use a refresher course in the Fundamentals of Effective Negotiating. Did you see the article in the USA Today on Friday concerning the Unions and GM?

http://www.usatoday.com/money/autos/2007-09-13-uaw_N.htm?csp=DailyBriefing

Apparently, the United Auto Workers plan to go on strike at midnight, if an agreement isn’t reached.

• Is this a productive negotiation strategy?
• Does this create momentum and trust?
• Does it help either party achieve competitive advantage against imports, which is the ultimate outcome?

Of course not, that’s because striking erodes momentum, trust and relationships. It’s the equivalent of a husband and wife having a difficulty and one of the parties threatening to file for separation or divorce. Even if they stay together they won’t “be together” as one.

This is the Detroit Dilemma – my hometown. It’s time for both parties to raise their standards and Step Up!

Did you hear that the #1 draft pick in the NBA is out for the rest of the season?

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2007/writers/ian_thomsen/09/13/oden.surgery/

 And the NBA season hasn’t even begun!!!

Can you say “talent selection blunder?”   Can you say “not again!”

That’s right. The Portland Trailblazers, like many organizations, have done it again.

Did you know that something similar happened to them years ago with their #1 draft pick?

http://www.tucsoncitizen.com/daily/sports/63109.php .

So, what’s this got to do with business?

Well, you are the corporate athlete. Your company is the franchise.

 Do you think organization commits similar talent selection blunders?

 Unfortunately, many do!

And here’s an excerpt from Step Up! that explains the root causes and the remedies.

 Click here to read

The next stop on my media tour that day was the Larry King Show!

See the photo of me on the Larry King Show?

Oh, oh, oh, I’m about to blow up!! Hollywood is calling!!!

 Well, not just yet.  The truth is that I took my son (Isaiah) to the CNN Center to play with some of the toys and discovered you could take these gimmick shots with famous people J.   

 So, the photo is a gimmick (but it looks so real). I consider it a sneak preview of what’s to develop with my book and in my career.

 Stay tuned….The Step Up Book Tour is just beginning!

There was a silent auction taking place to help the charity. My wife bid on an item and she won the prize!

The winning prize was an hour with Ryan Cameron at his studio. Coincidently, I had met Ryan in person earlier this year at Distant Replays (throwback jersey store) and gave him a copy of Step Up!

Well, I gave him Step Up, so he let me Throw-Down!

Check out this audio clip of me on the Ryan Cameron Show.

Click here to download

Next stop….The Larry King Show!!!

If not, then check them out here.

It’s the National Alliance of Black School Educators. They are holding their annual conference in Nashville, TN soon.

The mission of NABSE is to step up performance and results in education from early childhood development to graduate school. Consider attending the conference or supporting the organization. I know I will. With a little luck, I’ll be keynoting at their 2008 conference in Atlanta, GA.

In the meantime, I have launched my own efforts to help students, teachers and parents step up to the next level. The photo above is a shot of me at my son’s school (that’s him putting his jacket in his mouth). I volunteered to read to the kids each month. Consider doing the same.

What inspired me to do this?

Well, many things like my love for children, teaching and learning. As well, I was inspired by Bill Cosby http://www.billcosby.com/ . I have revered him over the years for his excellence as an individual and educator – from A Boy Like Me http://youtube.com/watch?v=8EGLkvPfCbU to Fat Albert http://youtube.com/watch?v=Wtsq0LzGYZk, to the Cosby Show.

Hopefully, one day, I can be like Bill and help others achieve excellence in education!

1. What separates top performers from average performers?

2. Why do some individuals and organizations succeed, while others struggle?

3. How can we win more and lose less in business?

Well, the answers that I provided can be found within this PDF.

Click here to download.

It summarizes the keys to success in business and the business of life.

Have you been to their site and played around?

Don’t sleep! I just did this weekend and I am already an addict.

Please understand, I thought YouTube was just for goofy people and goofy footage.

I had no idea that it is a video library filled with rare footage and fun stuff.

It’s basically Google (find anything you want at anytime about anything) with a video camera. Way cool!

Speaking of fun footage, you must check out yo’ boy Hammer and MJ. Click here to view.

Who wins this contest?

By the way, what does this blog entry have to do with business?

Nothing, but it does pertain to the business of life. So, enjoy!

 I love those old detective movies. I’ve got them all.  (Amazon link)(Amazon Link)

 You know, uncovering the mysteries of life is often like one of these good old movies. There’s the known and the un-known. The seen and the un-seen. The truth and the lie.

 I’m thinking about writing a non-business book about my search for truth and calling it “The Case of the Invisible Truth.”

 Did you want to see some of my early detective work to find spiritual truth?  Here it is: http://freeminds.org/african/african.htm